Zhu Shiyong's mansion in the south of the Yuema Bridge, starting from the second day of the Lunar New Year every year, is like a market where people come and go.

Luzhou officials and county officials and county officials, township gentry and large households will come to visit Zhu Shiyong from today, just like the agreed order, according to the difference between relatives and distance, these people will also consciously stagger the itinerary, from the second day of the first month to the Lantern Festival, here will be: still like the old time to travel to the garden, the car is like a dragon.

On the second day of the first month, according to the past practice, it was the day when the officials and gentry of Luzhou City came to visit, in addition to the officials of Luzhou, it was natural that the three giants of the Chamber of Commerce were indispensable guests; Early in the morning, there was an endless stream of people who came to visit the house, tall, short, fat and thin, without exception, the entourage behind these people were either picking or carrying all kinds of gifts, and under the greeting of the Zhu family's housekeeper, they were invited into the house with disturbed mutual greetings.

In the extraordinary hall of the Zhu Mansion, it was already full of friends, and everyone was waiting for the prefect to come while drinking tea and eating snacks; Generally speaking, at the end of the day, basically today's guests are considered to have come, and no one dares to delay until the time of the day to come back to visit, and the earlier they come, the more pious they are.

The sun rose high, the carriages and horses in front of the door gradually scattered, and when the sedan chair of Lord Wu arrived last, it indicated that today's guests had officially arrived.

Some of the people on the table are old faces, some are new faces, some people were still there last year, but they have disappeared this year, and some people have not seen them last year, but they can be among them this year; Although the hall of the Zhu family is not large, this small hall has already reflected the alternation of official positions and the change of relatives and friendships in the past year.

In the midst of the noise, a clear cough came from outside the back door, and everyone closed their mouths as if they had been commanded, put down the tea cups, got up in full clothes, stretched their necks and looked at the back door like a litter of curious mongooses.

"The prefect has arrived!" The maid of the Zhu family who was waiting for the tea shouted delicately, and then the thick velvet curtain at the back door of the main hall was divided into two, and Zhu Shiyong entered with a smile on his face. ”

Zhu Shiyong beckoned: "Sit, sit, they are all old acquaintances, why should they be formal." ”

Behind Zhu Shiyong was the chubby Zhu Tianshun who rolled his eyes, wearing a purple satin robe and a hairpin on top of his hairpin.

"Yanai Gongzi is in good spirits today, this bearing is worthy of being the top student of Yingtian Academy."

The clever man lost no time in sending beautiful words, and the one who was robbed of the first prize hurriedly followed: "Yes, yes, Zhu Gongzi was originally outstanding, and after half a year of academy edification, he became more and more gentle like a gentleman, and there was a faint image of a father." ”

Everyone secretly admired, this sycophant was filmed by the father and son together, and this level was not ordinarily high.

"This is called the belly of poetry and books, the prefect teaches Jinsu, the scholarly heirloom, to the son of the Yanei, the future will naturally be blue and better than the blue, it can be predicted that after the autumn of this year, I will come to drink the joy of the prince of the Yanei."

"Yes, when the time comes, the father and son will both be the pillars of the court, but it is a good story for the ages......"

Everyone was gossiping, the Zhu family's father and son smiled on their faces, Zhu Shiyong naturally understood his son's catties, but his own family is such a lone seedling, although it is a piece of, it is more fragrant than other people's food, hearing these words of praise, as a father is always very happy.

Zhu Tianshun's heart blossomed, and he laughed: "Dad, you always say that your son is not a weapon, now you see it, right?" These people are more accurate than you, saying that I have poetry and books in my belly, and I have the ability to do it, but you don't believe it. ”

Zhu Shiyong said softly: "Shut up!" He turned his head to the crowd and said: "Sit down, at the beginning of the new year, you will come to visit someone Zhu, and someone Zhu is grateful; People come, change to the Yuhua tea that Lord Xia sent me in Beijing to you to taste, how to treat this old tea? ”

A handmaiden hurriedly stepped forward and said softly: "Master, the Yuhua tea was all taken to the room by the fourth lady and hidden, and she can't take it out." ”

Zhu Shiyong smiled embarrassedly and froze, and said softly: "Go and get some out, just say I want it." ”

The maid had to turn around and go to the inner hall, and the person who was sitting close to the ear had already heard it clearly, and hurriedly said: "Lord Fuzun, you don't need to take any new tea, I am here to greet Lord Fuzun for the New Year, and also take this opportunity to get together with colleagues and friends, but I am not here to eat the good tea of the adult; The rain flower tea heard that it is bred and produced by the geothermal mountain, which is extremely precious, and the things that Lord Xia gave to the Lord of the Mansion were given to me to taste the tea, and I couldn't afford it, and it was also a cow chewing peony that ruined the good things. ”

Everyone echoed: "Yes, yes, Lord Fuzun doesn't have to wait with me to be polite." ”

Zhu Shiyong borrowed the slope to get off the donkey, knowing that his fourth lady Ming Cui was notoriously stingy and rude, and it might not be rewarding to be put away by her to take it herself, so he smiled and said: "In this case, let it go first, and drink it next time; It is said that the older this tea is, the more fragrant it becomes, and it is not afraid of losing its taste. ”

Everyone rolled their eyes, only heard that the older the good wine is, the more fragrant it is, but they have not heard of the older the tea leaves, the more fragrant they are, but the more they are released, the more moldy and tasteless they are; However, the prefect said that the older the more fragrant, naturally the older the more fragrant, which is nothing to argue.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thanks to you for looking up to the old man, and coming to see me every year, the old man is very pleased; What is the picture of human life? is not glory and wealth, not promotion and wealth, but full of friends and acquaintances all over the world; Every year, you don't have to bring gifts, people arrive when their hearts arrive, and you just don't listen; When we go back next time, bring all the gifts back, why should we be so cheesy between us. ”

"Lord Fuzun is serious, I'm just bringing some greeting gifts, according to my Great Song Dynasty customs, how can I come to the door empty-handed after the New Year, isn't this rude for me to wait?" Wu Tongju said with a smile.

Everyone echoed: "Yes, how can we be rude, it's not that Lord Fuzun is honest and righteous, but these are all etiquette, and the etiquette is indispensable." ”

Zhu Shiyong smiled and said: "Lao Wu, Lao Wu, you are not allowed to take the lead in coaxing, but what everyone said is also reasonable, I am the most important number of courtesies in the Great Song Dynasty, but I can't teach you to lack the number of courtesies; In this way, the courtesy is still exchanged, and I will ask the housekeeper to wrap a bag of Yangyang River hemp cake for you to bring back, the cake is high, I wish you all this year, it is best to be favored by the emperor, and become the material of my great Song Dynasty. ”

Everyone applauded and said, "I also wish Lord Fuzun to rise step by step this year, and all his wishes come true." ”

Everyone was lively on their lips, and they were slanderous in their hearts: "Damn, the old men came with a heavy gift, and your old dog sent away a pack of two-penny sesame cakes, and this thing is not fed to the dogs, and what kind of gifts are still exchanged, I'm afraid I don't want to fall behind the handle of receiving gifts."

Everyone re-seated lively, all of them were people who were fighting on the official face, naturally all of them had lotus flowers, and the history of barnyard officials was particularly interesting to say in their mouths, and when it came to the privacy of others, they all opened their mouths and laughed, and the atmosphere was very warm.

Zhu Tianshun was depressed when he heard it, he ate several pieces of pastries, drank several cups of tea, and felt more and more bored. Reaching out and secretly reaching out to the handmaid standing beside her, she pinched her ass through her pants; The maid blushed and did not dare to hide or make a sound, so she had to let him be light.

Some of the guests saw this and snickered to themselves; Lao Cheng was afraid that Zhu Tianshun would be ugly about Zhu Shiyong, so he asked Zhu Tianshun: "The son of Yanei has been studying in Yingtian Academy for half a year, right?" ”

Zhu Tianshun was feeling up, but was interrupted by this person, quickly withdrew his claws, and said dissatisfiedly: "Yes, what's the matter?" ”

"What a blessing, the old man has dreamed of studying at Yingtian Academy all his life, but unfortunately he never had this opportunity; Is the mountain chief still Qi Weng? ”

"It's not that old ...... Old gentleman? "Zhu Tianshun almost scolded the word 'old thing'.

"If there are any interesting anecdotes in the academy, the prince of Yanai might as well tell us about it, and let me wait to open my eyes." Vice President Huang, who has not been able to interject in the dialogue between officials, finally interjected.

"The academy is the most boring, and there is nothing fun to do except study." Zhu Tianshun rolled his eyes and disagreed.

"Bastard! Uncle Huang asked you and replied, how can there be such a perfunctory, Yingtian Academy is the first school in my Great Song Dynasty, how can it be boring? I'm afraid that you can't read every day, so you naturally feel bored. Zhu Shiyong reprimanded.

Zhu Tianshun stiffened his neck and said: "It's not fun, but there are a lot of things to talk about, and they are not what interests me." ”

Vice President Huang smiled: "If there is nothing to do, I will just pick up two pieces and talk about them." ”

Zhu Tianshun rolled his eyes and looked at the zenith and thought for a while, then suddenly clapped his hands and said, "Yes, there is one thing that is quite interesting." ”

Everyone hurriedly said: "Let's hear it......"

Zhu Tianshun said: "A month ago, seventeen students died in our academy, and more than thirty people were injured.......

Everyone was startled and looked around, and someone whispered, "So many dead?" This is...... Is this something big going on? ”

Zhu Tianshun pointed at the man and smiled: "Look at your timid appearance, isn't it just a dozen people who died?" Are you afraid of the dead? ”

Zhu Shiyong said angrily: "Hugh is talking nonsense, why didn't you tell me about this?" ”

Zhu Tianshun said nonchalantly: "Isn't this too late?" It's only been seven or eight days since I came back, and I'm so busy visiting relatives and friends that I forgot about it. ”